Maria Clara Salgado Rufino
Maria Clara Salgado Rufino Feed
Red Bull Latitude Zero turns the world on its head Sep 29, 2010
When the globe's two hemispheres collided on the Equator, it was the south who won out in the first Red Bull Latitude Zero volleyball challenge
Klagenfurt: Mecca of beach volleyball Jul 30, 2010
Me & My Body: Maria Salgado Jul 6, 2010
She's one half of beach volleyball's Brazilian super-sisters, and where she finds the time to eat popcorn, pull faces and train 15 times a week is anyone's guess, but The Red Bulletin attempts to...
Maria Clara's Details
About Maria Clara
Maria Clara has been playing with her sister (Carolina Salgado) since January 2003. The sisters are coached by their mother (Isabel), who competed six seasons on the FIVB World Tour with 26 starts, one gold medal, six podium placements and eight 'final four' finishes.
Maria Clara has been playing volleyball since she was 12, and competed for five years on the indoor circuit with Brazilian sports club Flamengo. In 2000, Maria Clara competed in her first World Tour event with Beach Volleyball legend Jackeline Silva and the pair finished fifth in Fortaleza, Brazil. Maria Clara claimed three medals at the FIVB under-21 World Championships with three different partners, including a 2003 bronze with Carolina in Saint Quay Portrieux, France.
Maria Clara teamed with Shaylyn Bede to win the inaugural under-21 world title in 2001 at Le Lavandou, France. She was also third in the 2002 under-21 finals with Talita Antunes in Catania, Italy. Maria Clara and Carolina became the first daughters of a medalist to capture a podium spot when they placed third at the 2005 season finale in Cape Town, South Africa. Before turning professional, Maria Clara was also a star in ballet, gymnastics and on the piano.
